Designed by Williamson Pounders Architects, this project includes the
formulation of a long range development master plan and plans for an
initial phase of additions and renovations. The master plan outlines
a facility and garden growth strategy to include a new education wing with
library and classrooms, an expanded exhibit hall, a public reception hall,
visitors' service center, restaurant, meeting rooms, gift shop,
demonstration greenhouses and four seasons garden, thus increasing the
overall square footage from 14,000 to 44,000 square feet.
The first phase of development included the new visitors' service center, 6,000 square foot reception hall, gift shop, meeting rooms, and four seasons garden. The enlarged facility is carefully planned so as to not disturb important existing landscape features to create opportunities for a merger between garden and building. Phase I opened in November of 1996.